Former Wellford police officer accused of assaulting vulnerable adult

Published: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 3:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 3:12 p.m.

A former Wellford police officer is in jail, accused of sexually assaulting a vulnerable adult while on duty, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.

Bennie Brandon Hand, 32, of 505 Kent St., Spartanburg, has been charged by SLED with misconduct in office, third-degree criminal sexual conduct and abuse of a vulnerable adult, according to arrest warrants.

The warrants state that between July 1, 2012, and Jan. 1, Hand engaged "in a sexual battery," oral sex, "with a person who he knows or has reason to know is mentally defective and suffers from a mental disease which renders her incapable of appraising the nature of her conduct." The warrant for the misconduct in office charges states that Hand "breech(ed) the duties he owed the public by sexually assaulting a vulnerable adult while he was on duty as a police officer for the city of Wellford."

Wellford Police Chief Jeff Bowers said Hand had worked at the department since 2008 and was a sergeant. He was fired Tuesday morning.

Bowers said the complaint came in to him on May 5 and after quickly realizing the nature of the complaint, he contacted SLED. SLED agents arrived May 6 and began their investigation, Bowers said.

"It came as a shock to me," Bowers said. "The best thing to do is to just be as honest and up front about it as we can and move on from here."

Misconduct in office and third-degree criminal domestic violence carry up to 10 years in prison, SLED spokesman Thom Berry said. Abuse of a vulnerable adult carries a maximum of 5 years in prison.

Hand remained at the Spartanburg County Detention Facility Tuesday awaiting a bond hearing.

<p>A former Wellford police officer is in jail, accused of sexually assaulting a vulnerable adult while on duty, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.</p><p>Bennie Brandon Hand, 32, of 505 Kent St., Spartanburg, has been charged by SLED with misconduct in office, third-degree criminal sexual conduct and abuse of a vulnerable adult, according to arrest warrants.</p><p>The warrants state that between July 1, 2012, and Jan. 1, Hand engaged "in a sexual battery," oral sex, "with a person who he knows or has reason to know is mentally defective and suffers from a mental disease which renders her incapable of appraising the nature of her conduct." The warrant for the misconduct in office charges states that Hand "breech(ed) the duties he owed the public by sexually assaulting a vulnerable adult while he was on duty as a police officer for the city of Wellford."</p><p>Wellford Police Chief Jeff Bowers said Hand had worked at the department since 2008 and was a sergeant. He was fired Tuesday morning.</p><p>Bowers said the complaint came in to him on May 5 and after quickly realizing the nature of the complaint, he contacted SLED. SLED agents arrived May 6 and began their investigation, Bowers said.</p><p>"It came as a shock to me," Bowers said. "The best thing to do is to just be as honest and up front about it as we can and move on from here."</p><p>Misconduct in office and third-degree criminal domestic violence carry up to 10 years in prison, SLED spokesman Thom Berry said. Abuse of a vulnerable adult carries a maximum of 5 years in prison.</p><p>Hand remained at the Spartanburg County Detention Facility Tuesday awaiting a bond hearing.</p>